Our Classroom

Rethinking Age-Appropriate Texts, Representation, and Reading Environments Having books available to children is important. But is access alone enough to cultivate a love of reading? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán reflects on a visit to a children's library in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with his wife and fellow educator, Lorena Germán. What began as a search for children...

What responsibility do educators have to preserve history, tell the truth, and help young people understand the world they've inherited? After spending two weeks in the Dominican Republic, Roberto Germán returns to Our Classroom with a personal reflection inspired by Mariposas de Acero , a powerful musical production at the Teatro Nacional in Santo Domingo. The production tells the story of the Mi...

What happens when a book we loved as children isn't necessarily the book our students need today? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán sits down with Dr. Laura Jiménez , author of J udging a Book By More Than Its Cover: A Critical Guide to Choosing Children’s Literature , for a conversation about how educators can become more critical and intentional about the books we place in front...

What does it actually mean for a student to be “ prepared”? A diploma? Good grades? College acceptance? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán sits down with educator and parent Will Smith , whose work at the college level has given him a different perspective on what happens after students leave K– 12 education. Their conversation began months ago with a discussion about phonics and fo...

A student is struggling. Assignments are missing. Grades are dropping. Eventually, everyone realizes there’s a problem. But what does a failing grade actually tell us? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán explores what happens when we treat a grade as a diagnosis rather than as information. An F might reflect what a student understands, but it might also reflect missing work, attendan...

A student puts their head down. Another stops completing assignments. Someone else seems completely checked out. It's easy to call these students "disengaged." But what if the behavior we're seeing isn't the whole story? In this solo episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán challenges educators to get curious before making assumptions about students who appear disconnected from learning. Using fo...

What happens when a child keeps asking, “Why?” In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán sits down with librarian and children’s author Inbal Alon to discuss her picture book, The Whys Get in Trouble . Through the story of Naomi, a child whose questions don’t always fit neatly into the expectations around her, Inbal invites us to think about what happens when children’s natural curiosity c...

What if the most important work we do as educators isn't lesson planning, it's self-reflection? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán sits down with educator, scholar, and author Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz to discuss her powerful book, The Archaeology of Self . Together, they explore why meaningful teaching begins with looking inward and how self-examination can transform the way we show...

Artificial intelligence has changed the way we access information, but it hasn't changed the importance of curiosity. In this solo episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán explores why great teaching isn't just about helping students find answers. It's about helping them ask better questions. In this episode, we discuss: Why curiosity is one of the most important skills students can develop How q...

The beginning of a school year is filled with anticipation. Teachers organize classrooms, prepare lesson plans, establish routines, and think through every detail of the first week. Those things matter but they aren't the only things that matter. In this solo episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán invites educators to look beyond procedures and consider the deeper questions that shape the cultu...

Every day, teachers ask students to write. But how often do we ask them to write the stories that only they can tell? In this solo episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán reflects on a question that emerged while preparing for a workshop on poetry, identity, and place: What stories are we inviting students to preserve? Too often, writing becomes an exercise in compliance—responding to prompts, m...

  As educators, we often focus on what we're going to teach. But what if the most important part of teaching happens before we ever step into the classroom? In this solo episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán reflects on preparing for an upcoming workshop with the Sealaska Heritage Institute in Juneau, Alaska. As he revisits his presentation, he realizes that the workshop isn't really abou...

What if multilingualism isn't something to overcome—but one of a child's greatest strengths? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán sits down with educator, school leader, and multilingual education advocate Elise Genao to explore the power of translanguaging and why honoring children's full linguistic identities creates stronger learners and more inclusive classrooms. Drawing from her...

How do we teach children to respect others without teaching them to ignore themselves? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán sits down with children's author Caitlin Roeder to discuss her forthcoming picture book, Family Kisses , and the important conversations it invites around family traditions, culture, consent, bodily autonomy, and children's voices. Together, they explore how adul...

Every lesson teaches something. The question is: What are students learning beyond the standards? In this episode of Our Classroom , Lorena Germán sits down with educator and school leader Suzanne Adinolfi to explore the hidden curriculum—the unspoken messages students receive about identity, belonging, voice, and power. Together, they discuss why meaningful learning extends beyond academic s...

What if some of the most important lessons about belonging happen outside the classroom? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán sits down with educator, school social worker, author, and parent Jalpa Vaidya Patel to discuss how schools and families can intentionally create spaces where children feel seen, valued, and connected. Drawing from her work helping transform recess into a cultu...

What does meaningful school change actually look like? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán sits down with Dr. Lucy Canzoneri-Golden, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Coral Reef Montessori Academy Charter School , to discuss what happens when a school commits to culture, belonging, and student-centered learning over the long haul. Rather than treating equity and inclusion as isolated ini...

What if picture books were some of the most powerful tools available to educators—not just for teaching reading, but for helping students understand themselves? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán sits down with literacy consultant and author Sarah Cordova to discuss the role picture books can play in shaping student identity, developing writers, and creating more inclusive classroom...

Libraries shouldn't be a luxury. In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán reflects on a social media post from an educator who challenged the reality that many students still attend schools without fully functioning libraries. What happens when we say literacy matters but fail to provide access to books? This episode explores: - Why libraries are an equity issue - The connection between li...

What happens when schools see refugee students through a lens of deficit instead of possibility? In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán sits down with Dr. Yacoub Aljaffery, author of Narratives of Success and Resilience of Students from Refugee Backgrounds in U.S. Schools: From Invisible to Valuable , to discuss what educators need to understand about refugee students, multilingual learn...

ELA isn’t dead. It just needs to be revived, reimagined, and remembered differently. In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán reflects on why imagination, joy, speculative thinking, and culturally relevant literacy practices matter now more than ever in ELA classrooms. This conversation explores: How ELA became overly compliance-driven Why imagination is rigorous academic work The role of...

Episode Summary What happens when schools misunderstand culture as misbehavior? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán reflects on powerful conversations with a Dominican mother advocating for her son after repeated school experiences rooted in misunderstanding, bias, and cultural disconnects. This conversation explores the important distinction between cultural competence and cultural...

Episode Summary What does it mean to cultivate hope in a moment like this? In this reflective episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán explores the idea that hope is not denial, optimism, or pretending things are okay—it’s intentional, courageous work. Inspired by the upcoming Cultivate Hope 2026 gathering hosted by The Flourish Collective, this conversation reflects on the Harlem Renaissance, th...

Pushback doesn’t show up as a theory—it shows up in real moments. In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán breaks down what pushback actually looks like in schools and professional spaces—from parent emails and staff meetings to student questions and social media comments. More importantly, he walks through what it looks like to respond with clarity instead of reaction. This episode moves...

What happens when students stop worrying about grammar? For many teachers, the answer is surprising: their writing becomes more powerful, more authentic, and more alive. So why does that change when we shift the focus back to correctness? In this episode of Our Classroom , Roberto Germán sits down with Patty McGee , author of Not Your Granny's Grammar, to unpack a real question from a member of th...